Brake-beam



(No m del!) 7 H. B. ROBISGHUNG.

BRAKE BEAM.

N=0. 579 ,496. Patented Mar. 23, 1897. 7" I 1 Ilnrrnn #Srnrns PATENTCrrrcn.

HENRY B. ROBISCI-IUNG, OF KALAMAZCO, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO THE CHICAGORAILIVAY EQUIPMENT COMPANY OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

BRAKE BEAWl.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 579,496, dated March23, 1897.

Application filed October 30,1896. Serial No. 610,627. (No model.)

T 0 all whom, 71/; 711/14 ca mer/1' Be it known that I, HENRY B.RoBIscHUNo, a citizen of the United States, residing at Kalamazoo, inthe county of Kalamazoo, State of Michigan, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in Brake- Beams; and I hereby declare thefollowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is aplan view of a brake-beam em bodying by invention, the ends thereofshown in section, that 011 the left hand showing the appearance of thebeam where a welded tubular compression member is employed and theright-hand end showing the appearance of the parts where an open slottedcompression member is used. Figs. 2 and 3 show the end of a weldedtubular compression member after the same has been slotted for thepassage of the end of the tension member and previous to forming theseat for the tension member. Figs. 4 and 5 show the end of a weldedtubular compression member after the seat for the tension-rod has beenformed therein. Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section of the end of thecompression member shown in Fig. 4. Figs. 7 and 8 show the end of anopen longitudinally-slotted compression member after it has been slottedfor the passage of the end of the tension member and before the seat ofthe tension member has been formed. Figs. 9 and 10 show the end of anopen slotted compression member after the seat or bearin g for thetension member has been formed. Fig. 11 is a longitudinal sectional viewof the end of the compression member shown in Fig. 9. Fig. 12 is aperspective view of the end of the compression member and the end of thetension member, showing their relative position in the trussed beam; andFigs. 13 and 14 are views of the ends of a compression member,illustrating modifications in the slotting thereof previous to theformation of the seat for the tension member of the trussed structure.

Like symbols refer to like parts wherever they occur.

In the construction of trussed brake-beams, for the sake of strength,stiffness, and resiliency with the minimum weight of metal, a

tubular compression (or back) member has heretofore been employed. Inorder to obtain the benefit of the trussed structure, the tension memberat its ends should enter or pass through the ends of the compressionmember, for which purpose the compression member employed has beeneither a welded tube slotted at its ends for the passage of the ends ofthe tension-rod or a longitudinallyslotted (or open-slot) tube, the slotof sutlicient width adjacent to the ends of the compression member topermit the passage of the tension member. The brake-head used with suchbeams has been one havinga cup-socket to receive the end of the beam,or, if an open socket, then an end or cap plate was employed to afford abearing for the nut on the end of the tension member or equivalent meansof combining the compression member, the brake-head, and the tensionmember.

The weak points of the structure, as they have developed in service, aretwofoldviz., first, the tendency of the compression member to buckle atthe weakest point and point of greatest strainwhere it is slotted forthe passage of the tension memberand the destructive wear on the tensionrod or member owing to the limited or edge bearing of the tube on thetension member, the latter induced by the movement of the parts incidentto the spring or deflection of the compression member when the brakesare applied and taken off, and, second, the lost motion incident to wearon the end plate or cup-socket of the brake-head which arises from thelimited end bearing in case of an open or longitudinallyslottedcompression member or of a welded tubular compression member, if thetensionmember slot be extended to the end of the beam, and incident tothis last-named trouble is frequent loss of camber in the beam.

The object of my present invention is to obviate the diffieulties abovenoted; and to this end the invention, generally stated, is embodied in atubular compression member, whether the same be welded or longitudinallyslotted, having adjacent to its end a transverse slot and a depressedseat for the tension member, whereby an increased end bearing zoo forthe brake-head or end plate and for the tension member is obtained.

There are other minor features of invention, all as will hereinaftermore fully appear.

I will now proceed to describe the preferred form of my invention morein detail, so that others skilled in the art to which it appertains mayapply the same.

In the drawings, A indicates the compression member; B, the strut orpost; 0, the tension member, and D D the brake-heads of a trussedbrake-beam.

The compression member A will be of tubular form, but whether a weldedor closed tube or an open or longitudinally-s10tted tube, as at a, isimmaterial, except that in the latter case the edges of slot at arepreferably in apposition throughout the length of the compressionmember, as thereby a nearer approach to the welded tube or typical compression member is secured.

The ends of the beam may be notched in the usual manner, as at 1, toreceive a lug or projection 2 on the inside of the head D, or otherknown means may be adopted to prevent the rotation of the brake-head onthe compression member and secure the desired throw or position of thebrake-head in case the brake-head is to be fixed with relation to thecompression member.

Just within the end of the tubular compression member and at the pointwhere the end of the tension member 0 is to pass into and through thecompression member I slot the beam transversely, as at 8, and while theform of said slot 3 is preferably oval or circular, and if oval with itslong diameter transverse, as indicated in Figs. 2 and 7, yet said formis not essential, provided the area and general form of the slot willpermit the passage of the tension member 0. By so slotting the beam thecircular end bearing of the beam (or seat for the brake-head or endplate) is preserved and thus end wear and 10st motion obviated, and atthe same time a passage for the end of the tension-rod is obtained.

After the tubular compression member has been slotted, as at 3, the bodyof metal ad jacent to the margin or inner edge of the slot is forced outof the peripheral line of the member A, being preferably depressed orforced inward on an inclined plane corresponding with the angle of thetension member, and with its vertex toward the center of the compressionmember or toward the strut or post B. In the case of a closed or weldedtubular compression member there will be produced a depression ortapering seat 4 for the tension member, and in case of an open orlongitudinally slotted tube, if desired, the edges of the slot may becarried inward to form inturned flanges l 4:, (see Figs. 9, 10,

and 11,) which afford broad side bearings for the tension member C.

In either case the form of the structure will not only strengthen orreinforce the compression member at the points where the tension memberenters the same, but will obviate Wear or channeling of the tension-rodand at the same time will preserve an almost, if not complete, circularend bearing for the bottom of the cup-socket of the brake-head 01 0f theend plate, and thus minimize the wear and lost motion incident theretoin the whole structure.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is-

1. A tubular compression member for trussed brake-beams, said memberhaving slots adjacent to its ends for the passage of the ends of thetension member and the preservation of the end bearing of thecompression member, and having the metal surrounding the inner edges ofsaid slots turned from the periphery of the compression member to affordan increased bearing for said tension member; substantially as and forthe purposes specified.

2. A tubular compression member for trussed brake-beams, said memberhaving slots adjacent to its ends for the passage of the tension member,and extending from the inner margin of each of said slots a depressionor tapering seat for the tension member, the vertex of said seat beingtoward the center of said compression member, substantially as and forthe purposes specified.

A tubular brake-beam having an oval slot adjacent to its end the longdiameter of the slot being transverse of the member, and an inclineddepression to the inner side of said slot, substantially as and for thepurposes specified.

4. In a brake-beam, the combination of a compression member, a strut orpost, and a tension member, the compression member having slots adjacentto its ends for the passage of the tension member, and to the inner sideof said slots provided with tapering depressions or seats for thetension member, the apices of said tapering seats being toward the strutor post; substantially as and for the purposes specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature, in presence of two witnesses,this 26th day of October, 1896.

HENRY B. ROBISCIIUNG.

WVitnesses:

F. W. BITTER, J12, CARL F. GEYER.

